Audio 3:30
Abbott meets businessmen on official visit to Canada

James GlendayUpdated
Mon Jun 09 19:15:00 EST 2014

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has met businessmen in the Canadian capital ahead of his formal talks with the country's prime minister Stephen Harper. But Mr Abbott wants to boost trade and investment ties during his two day Canadian visit.

Transcript

MARK COLVIN: Tony Abbott has met businessmen in the Canadian capital this afternoon, ahead of his formal talks with the country's prime minister Stephen Harper.

The two leaders will discuss a range of issues when they meet tomorrow.

But Mr Abbott wants to boost trade and investment ties during his two day Canadian visit.

James Glenday reports from Ottawa.

JAMES GLENDAY: The red carpet was rolled out and Australian flags fluttered in the summer breeze as the prime ministerial motorcade made its way into the Canadian capital.

The Coalition struck up a friendship with the country's conservatives long ago, and successive leaders have always been warmly welcomed on arrival.

JAMES GLENDAY: The PM and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper are almost ideologically identical.

And immediately after arriving, Tony Abbott was quick to express his respect for the more experienced, conservative statesmen.

TONY ABBOTT: He has been regarded as something of a beacon to centre-right parties around the world. And certainly I have regarded Stephen Harper as an exemplar of a contemporary centre-right prime minister. So it's certainly going to be good to spend much of tomorrow in his company and enjoy his counsel.

JAMES GLENDAY: The pair are economic allies at the G20, and seem to have each other's backs.

Today, Stephen Harper called Russia's Vladimir Putin, an extreme nationalist, a threat to global peace, and an individual who believes he has the right to invade another country.

Tony Abbott essentially endorsed the comments.

TONY ABBOTT: Well they're very forthright remarks. And I think that they're perfectly appropriate remarks for the Canadian prime minister to make. Canadia, Canada probably has more involvement in the affairs of Europe than Australia often does; but nevertheless this should stop, this should stop. No country has the right to bully another country just because it can.

JAMES GLENDAY: Tomorrow is a day of formalities; the pair will have breakfast, lunch and dinner together.

They'll talk trade and security issues in their first full bilateral meeting before an evening event in Mr Abbott's honour.

The PM faces an all together tougher task from tomorrow night when he flies out to the United States. There, the tricky issue of action of climate change is likely to be on the agenda.